Guide support for a tube-bending machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a guide support for a tube bending machine ( 1 ), comprising a baseframe ( 2 ), a bending head ( 3 ), a bending arm ( 4 ), a bending roller ( 9 ), a locking jaw ( 12 ) for the bending of a tube ( 5 ), and sliding means ( 15, 16 ) for the displacement of the bending head ( 3 ) in the horizontal and vertical directions with relation to the baseframe ( 2 ), comprising at least two guides ( 28, 29 ) the recesses of which are arranged in opposite directions with relation to the position of the tube ( 5 ) for the bending and guiding and displacement means ( 18, 19, 23, 24 ) for the guides ( 28, 29 ) of the bending head ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to a guide support for tube bendingmachines and, more particularly, for tube bending machines that allowthe bending of a tube either to the left, in a so-called clockwisedirection, or to the right, in a so-called counterclockwise direction.

When bending in a clockwise direction, the bending arm rotates from theright to the left around the bending arm.

When bending in a counterclockwise direction, the bending arm rotatesfrom the left to the right around the bending arm.

In French patent application No. 0118593, in the name of the applicant,was disclosed a tube bending machine having as object the possibility tobend the same tube either to the left or to the right by means of abending roller mounted to the bending arm.

The tube bending machine described in the French patent application No.116593 comprises:

-   -   a stationary framework provided along its longitudinal axis with        a guide rail on which slides a movable carriage rigidly secured        to a bushing that provides through the action of an internal        clamping chuck the guiding and the immobilization of a tube for        bending, in either a rotational or in a translational motion;    -   at one of its extremities a bending head, a bending roller and a        bending arm that rotates around the vertical axis XX′ of the        bending head for the forming of the tube;    -   a bending arm provided with a chuck jaw support that travels        horizontally in the direction of the bending head, being said        chuck jaw support rigidly secured to a clamping jaw that is        provided with at least one jaw for the bending of the tube in a        clockwise direction and with at least one jaw for the bending of        the tube in a counterclockwise direction, which jaws are        stationary with respect to each other;    -   a bending roller that is mounted on the bending arm and is        provided with at least one jaw for the bending of the tube in a        clockwise direction and with at least one jaw for the bending of        the tube in a counterclockwise direction, being said jaws        laterally staggered with respect to each other, and on side and        the other of the vertical axis XX′ of the bending head;    -   a first guide support that comprises at least one jaw for the        tight support of the tube at the time of the bending in a        clockwise direction;    -   and a second guide support that comprises at least one jaw for        the tight support of the tube at the time of the bending in a        counterclockwise direction.

It can be noticed that the above-described machine comprises two guidesupports to effectuate the bending of the tube in a clockwise and acounterclockwise direction, respectively.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention provides forthe simplification and the replacement of the first and second guidesupports by enabling that bending to be effectuated in clockwise andcounterclockwise directions.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention can be builtfor and installed on any type of tube bending machine.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention comprises atleast two guides whose respective recesses are arranged in oppositedirections with respect to the position of the tube for bending and twoguiding and displacement means for the guides on the bending head.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention comprises anelement guided in a horizontal motion on a plate rigidly secured to thebending head and opposite to the guiding means provided with at leasttwo guides parallel to each other.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention comprises anelement provided on its upper surface, and following a directionperpendicular to that of the guiding means, with parallel rails of whicheach interacts with a guide.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention comprises afirst guide that is provided with a partially cylindrical recess whoseinternal diameter depends on that of the tube to be held during itsbending between the other jaws of the clamping jaw.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention comprises asecond Guide provided with a partially cylindrical recess whose internaldiameter depends on that of the tube to be held during its bendingbetween the other jaws of the clamping jaw.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention is providedwith guides that are immobilized on the rails in such a manner thattheir respective recesses are arranged in opposite directions withrespect to the horizontal axis of the machine, embodied by the tube.

The guide support in accordance with the present invention is providedwith guides that enable to effectuate on the same bending machine eithera left, or counterclockwise, bending or a right, or clockwise, bending.

The below description with respect to the attached illustrations, givenby way of example but not limitative, allows a better understanding ofthe invention, its characteristics and the advantages it is likely tooffer:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a tube bending machinecomprising the guide support according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is perspective view showing in detail the bending head of thetube bending machine provided with the guide support according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the guide supportaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective view showing the different stages of thebending machine in effectuating by means of the guide support, accordingto the present invention, a bending following a counterclockwisedirection, given that the bending arm rotates from the left to the rightaround the bending head.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are perspective views showing the different stages of thebending machine in effectuating by means of the guide support, accordingto the present invention, a bending following a clockwise direction,given that the bending arm rotates from the right to the left around thebending head.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 are illustrated a bending machine 1 of which thestationary framework 2 is provided at one of its extremities with abending head 3 around which rotates a bending arm 4 for the forming ofthe tube 5, be it in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction.

Opposite the bending head 3 and along its longitudinal axis, theframework 2 comprises a carriage 6 which, depending on the type of thebending machine, can move either towards to or away from the bendinghead 3.

The carriage 6 comprises fastening means 7 for the receiving andsecuring of the tube 5 in order to move it horizontally and in arotational manner around its axis.

The bending arm 4 comprises a grip support 8 that moves horizontally inthe direction of the bending head 3.

The bending arm 4 is rigidly secured to a bending roller 9 constitutinga fastening device of a clamping jaw 12 provided with at least one jaw10, 11 of different bending radii.

The clamping jaw 12 is provided on the grip support 8 of the bending arm4 with at least one jaw 13, 14 for the purpose of interacting with thejaws 10, 11, respectively, of the bending roller 9.

The bending head 3 is provided with sliding means 15, 16 allowing thetraveling of the bending head 3 in horizontal and vertical directions,respectively, with respect to the stationary framework 2.

Thus, the bending head 3 can travel actuated by the sliding means 15 inhorizontal directions from the left to the right, and inversely, withrespect to the framework 2.

Likewise, the bending head 3 can travel, actuated by sliding means 16,following vertical directions from the top downwards, and inversely,with respect to the framework 2.

Depending on the programming of the bending machine 1, the jaws 10, 13and 11, 14 of the clamping jaw 12 can effectuate, by way of example, thebending of the tube 5 according to different curvature radii in aclockwise direction.

Also depending on the programming of the bending machine 1, the jaws 10,13 and 11, 14 of the clamping jaw 12 can effectuate, by way of example,the bending of the tube 5 according to different curvature radii in acounterclockwise direction.

Lastly, depending on the programming of the bending machine 1, the jaws10, 13 of the clamping jaw 12 can effectuate the bending of the tube 5according to a curvature radius in a counterclockwise direction, whilethe jaws 11, 14 of the clamping jaw 12 effectuate the bending of thetube 5 according to a curvature radius either identical to or differentfrom the one previously formed but in a clockwise direction.

Between its sliding means 15 and 16, the bending head 3 is provided witha horizontal plate 17 comprising parallel guide rails 18, 19 for thesliding of a guide support 20.

The guide support 20 can travel in a horizontal direction in such amanner as to move towards to or away from the clamping jaw 12 of thebending machine 1.

The sliding of the guide support 20 in direction towards the clampingjaw 12 is disposed on a horizontal plane that is perpendicular, on theone hand, to the one comprising the sliding means 15 for the horizontaldisplacements of the bending head 3 with respect to the framework 2 and,on the other hand, to the one comprising the sliding means 16 allowingthe vertical displacements of the bending head 3 with respect to theframework 2.

The guide support 20 comprises an element 21 provided on its bottom 22with guides 23 and 24 intended to interact with rails 18 and 19,respectively, of the plate 17.

On its upper side 25 and in a perpendicular direction to that of theguides 23, 24, the element 21 of the support guide 20 is provided withparallel rails 26 and 27 each of which interacts with a guide 28 and 29in order to allow either the sliding or the immobilization of the latterones on the element 21.

The guide 28 comprises a recess 30 that can be partially cylindricalwhose internal diameter depends on that of the tube 5 which, during itsbending, is held between the jaws of the bending roller 9 and of theclamping jaw 12.

The guide 29 is provided with a recess 31 that can be partiallycylindrical whose internal diameter depends on that of the tube 5 which,during its bending, is held between the jaws of the bending roller 9 andthe clamping jaw 12.

The profile of the recesses 30, 31 of each guide 28, 29 depends on thatof the tube for bending that can present any exterior shape.

The guides 28 and 29 interact with the rails 26 and 27 in such a mannerthat their respective recesses 30 and 31 are arranged in oppositedirections with respect to the horizontal axis of the machine 1,embodied by the tube 5.

Thus, the recess 30 of the guide 28 is turned [away] from the side ofthe bending roller 9 while recess 31 of the guide 29 is oriented in thedirection of the clamping jaw 12 when the grip support 8 is positionedat the left of the tube 5.

It can be noted that the number of the guides 28, 29 depends on thenumber of the jaws 10, 13 and 11, 14 installed on the tube bendingmachine 1.

It can be noted that the height of the recesses 30 and 31 of the guides28 and 29 are staggered with respect to each other, this staggeringbeing caused by the position of the jaws 10, 13 and 11, 14 of theclamping jaw on the bending arm 4.

In our example of embodiment, the guide 28 is applied against the tube 5when the latter is being bent by the jaws 10, 13 of the clamping jaw 12while the guide 29 is applied against the tube 5 when the latter isbeing bent by the jaws 11, 14 of the clamping jaw 12.

Under these conditions, the inverted position of the guides 28 and 29allows to effectuate on the same bending machine 1 either a bending tothe left, or counterclockwise, or a bending to the right, or clockwise,respectively.

Thus, with such a design, it can be easily understood that the jaws 10,13 of the clamping jaw 12 and the guide 28 of the guide support 20 allowa bending of the tube in a counterclockwise direction because thebending arm 4 rotates from left to right around the bending head 3.

On the other hand, the jaws 11, 14 of the clamping jaw 12 and the guide29 of the guide support 20 enable the carrying out of a bending of thetube in a clockwise direction because the bending arm 4 rotates fromright to left around the bending head 3.

In FIGS. 4 to 7 are shown the various bending stages of the tube 5 insuch a manner as to effectuate a bending in a counterclockwisedirection.

FIG. 4 shows the position of the tube 5 inside the jaws 10 and 13 of theclamping jaw 12 to effectuate a first bending. The guide 28 of the guidesupport 20 is in close contact against the tube 5 so that it is lodgedin the recess 30.

FIG. 5 shows the bending of tube 5 in a counterclockwise direction bymeans of the pivoting of the bending arm 4 around the bending head 3.The guide 28 allows the conveyance of the tube 5 that slides inside ofits recess 30 due to the rotation of the jaws 10, 13 of the clamping jaw12.

FIG. 6 shows the opening of the clamping jaw 12, that is to say, thedistance between jaws 10 and 13 for the release of the bent portion ofthe tube 5. The opening of the clamping jaw 12 is effectuated by thesliding of the grip support 8 on the bending arm 4 in a tilted position.Next, the guide support 20 travels horizontally on the plate 17 to moveaway the guide 28 in order to release the tube 5 from the recess 30.Lastly, the carriage 6 causes the tube 5 to advance in order to releaseits bent portion from the jaw 13 securely fastened to the bending roller9.

FIG. 7 shows the return of the bending arm 4 to its original positionprior to the bending of the tube 5. The return of the bending arm 4 iseffectuated with the clamping jaw 12 and the guide support 20 in thesame position as described in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show the various stages of bending the tube 5 so as tobending in a clockwise direction.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the release of the already bent tube 5 from thebending zone due to the displacement of the bending head 3.

First, the bending head 3 travels vertically towards the lower part ofthe bending machine 1 so that the assembly of the bending head 3, thebending arm 4 and the guide support 20 is positioned below the tube 5held in the carriage 6 securely fastened to the framework 2.

Second, the guide support 20 travels horizontally on the plate 17 forthe guide 29 to be to the right of the tube 5 to be bent

Third and in a simultaneous manner, the bending arm 4 swings around thebending head 3 in order to move the jaw 14 to the right of the tube 5while the bending arm 3 moves through the action of the sliding means 15and 16 to be positioned at the level of the tube 5, the guide 29 and thejaws 11,14 of the clamping jaw 12.

FIG. 10 shows the position of the tube 5 inside the jaws 11 and 14 ofthe clamping jaw 12 for the carrying out of a second bending. The guide29 of the guide support 20 is in close contact against the tube 5 forthe tube to be lodged in the recess 31.

The second bending of the tube 5 in a clockwise direction is carried outby the swinging of the bending arm 4 around the bending head 3. Theguide 29 allows the conveyance of the tube 5 that slides inside itsrecess 31 because of the rotation of the jaws 11, 14 of the clamping jaw12.

It can be noted that, because of the position between the guides 28 and29, the guide support 20 allows to effectuate on a standard bendingmachine 1 the bending of a tube 5 in clockwise and counterclockwisedirections.

It must be further understood that the foregoing description is givenonly by way of example and that it does not limit in the least thedomain of the invention, which must be observed when substituting thedetails of embodiment described herein by others equivalent ones.

1. A guide support for a bending machine (1) comprising a framework (2),a bending head (3), a bending arm (4), a bending roller (9), a clampingjaw (12) for the bending of a tube (5), and sliding means (15, 16) forthe displacement of the bending head (3) in horizontal and verticaldirections with respect to the framework (2), characterized in that itcomprises at least two guides (28, 29) whose recesses (30, 31) arearranged in opposite directions with respect to the position of the tube(5) for bending and of the guiding and displacement means (18, 19, 23,24) of the guides (28, 29) on the bending head (3).
 2. A guide supportin accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it comprises anelement (21) guided in a horizontal translation motion on a plate (17)securely fastened to the bending head (3) and comprising on the oppositeside of the guiding means (18, 19, 23, 24) at least two guides (28, 29)arranged parallel to each other.
 3. A guide support in accordance withclaim 2, characterized in that the element (21) is provided on its uppersurface (25) and in a direction perpendicular to that of the guidingmeans (18, 19, 23, 24) with parallel rails (26, 27) each of whichinteracts with a guide (28, 29).
 4. A guide support in accordance withclaim 1, characterized in that the guide (28) comprises a recess (30)whose internal profile depends on that of the tube (5) to be held duringits bending between the jaws (10, 13) of the clamping jaw (12).
 5. Aguide support in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that theguide (28) comprises a recess (31) whose internal profile depends onthat of the tube (5) to be held during its bending between the jaws (11,14) of the clamping jaw (12).
 6. A guide support in accordance withclaim 3, characterized in that each of the guides (28, 29) interactswith the rails (26, 27) in such a fashion that their respective recess(30, 31) is positioned in the opposite directions with respect to thehorizontal axis of the machine (1) embodied by the tube (5).
 7. A guidesupport in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the invertedposition of the guides (28, 29) allows the carrying out on the samebending machine (1) either a bending to the left, or counterclockwise,or to the right, or clockwise.